各个
gè gè · HSK 4
every
各 (each) + 个 (individual measure word) = each one, one by one
各 means 'each/every' and 个 is the generic counter for individual items. Doubling them up gives the sense of 'every single one' or treating things separately, one by one.
各 — 夂 (foot coming down) + 口 (mouth/enclosure)
Originally depicted a foot (夂) arriving at a dwelling or settlement (口), suggesting 'each one arriving' at their own place. From this came the meaning 'each' or 'every,' emphasizing individual instances. The character is now used purely for this grammatical sense.
个 — person 人 over enclosure-like component (simplified from 個)
个 is the simplified form of 個, originally a measure word for bamboo stalks. The traditional form combines 人 (person) with 固 (firm, phonetic). Over time it became the most common general-purpose measure word in Chinese, used for people and many objects without a specific classifier.